Ericameria paniculata

Ericameria paniculata

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Ericameria
Species:
E. paniculata
Binomial name
Ericameria paniculata
Synonyms[3]
  • Aster asae Kuntze
  • Bigelowia paniculata A.Gray
  • Bigelovia paniculata A.Gray[1][2]
  • Chrysoma paniculata (A.Gray) Greene
  • Chrysothamnus paniculatus (A.Gray) H.M.Hall

Ericameria paniculata (formerly Chrysothamnus paniculatus)[4] is a species of flowering plant in the sunflower family Asteraceae, native to the southwestern United States. It is an evergreen yellow-flowered desert shrub.

It is known by several common names, including black-banded rabbitbrush, Mojave rabbitbrush,[5] and punctate rabbitbrush.[6][7] The stems often have black, gummy bands.[7]

Description

Ericameria paniculata is a branching shrub reaching up to 2 meters (80 inches) tall. The spreading or erect stems are glandular and resinous and are often banded or splotched with black from a smut fungus Puccinia splendens.[8] The glandular leaves are filiform (thread-shaped or narrowly oblanceolate) up to 3.5 centimeters (1.4 inches) in length.[6]

The inflorescence is an array of small, yellow flower heads, each of which contains 5 to 8 disc florets but no ray florets. The fruit is up to a centimeter (0.4 inches) long including its long pappus. They are wind-dispersed.[9][6][10]

It flowers from June to December.[7]

Range and habitat

Ericameria paniculata is native to the deserts of Arizona, Nevada, southern California, southwestern Utah. It is particularly common in the Mojave Desert.[9][11][12]

It is found in a great variety of habitats, including disturbed areas such as roadsides. It tolerates poor soils. Its companions may include Larrea tridentata (creosote), Yucca brevifolia (Joshua tree), Baccharis, Hymenoclea salsola (white burrobush), Atriplex polycarpa (desert saltbush), and Acacia greggii (catclaw acacia).[9][6]

References

  1. ^ Tropicos, Bigelowia paniculata A. Gray
  2. ^ Gray, Asa. 1873. Bigelovia. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 8:638- 646 descriptions in Latin, commentary in English
  3. ^ The Plant List, Ericameria paniculata (A.Gray) A.Gray ex Rydb.
  4. ^ Mojave Desert Wildflowers, Pam MacKay, 2nd Ed. 2013, p. 314
  5. ^ NRCS. "Ericameria paniculata". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d Ericameria paniculata, Mojave or punctate rabbitbrush Flora of North America.
  7. ^ a b c Mojave Desert Wildflowers, Pam MacKay, 2nd Ed. 2013, p. 199
  8. ^ "Mohave rabbitbrush". Bird and Hike. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  9. ^ a b c Tesky, Julie L. 1993. Chrysothamnus paniculatus. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.
  10. ^ Chrysothamnus paniculatus. Jepson Manual Treatment.
  11. ^ Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
  12. ^ Calflora taxon report, University of California, Ericameria paniculata (A. Gray) Rydb., Mojave rabbitbrush